PORTRAIT: Haifa, patient at MSFs Reconstructive Surgery Hospital in Amman, Jordan (ENG)

30-year-old Haïfa comes from Dhamar in Yemen. She was injured during an explosion in October 2015. She's been admitted to MSF's reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan for specialist care.

MSF257297

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PORTRAIT: Haifa, patient at MSFs Reconstructive Surgery Hospital in Amman, Jordan (FR)

Subt. French

PORTRAIT: Haifa, patient at MSFs Reconstructive Surgery Hospital in Amman, Jordan (INT)

PORTRAITS: Haifa and Zaynab, Reconstructive Surgery Hospital, Amman, Jordan

PORTRAIT: Haifa, patient at MSFs Reconstructive Surgery Hospital in Amman, Jordan (AR)

Subt. Arab

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF257297

Date taken / Date Recorded 02/12/2018 12:00 AM

Country Jordan

Commissioning section MSF-FRANCE

Photographer / videographer / producer Armelle Loiseau

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Fundraising, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m41s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 266.39 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Only 2 of my brothers survived that night. They brought me here.
I was injured in the attack. I lost an arm and an eye.

30-year-old Haïfa
comes from Dhamar in Yemen

When the war began life became really expensive and very dangerous. We were in an area where everything was a target—mosques, schools, funeral ceremonies, official buildings.
We were permanently anxious, wondering where the next missile would hit…

In October 2015,
Haïfa was preparing to celebrate her
brothers’ weddings

I went to my parents’ house and a missile, a Saudi missile, hit us.
My whole family died. Including the bridegrooms, my brothers.
And their wives, the brides. They’re all dead.
Only two of my brothers survived that night. They brought me here.

Haifa is now receiving treatment
in MSF’s surgical hospital
in Amman

They did a skin graft on my face.
They also operated on my eyelid that wouldn’t close.
They told me to go back and rest in Yemen before a second operation on my eyelid.
When I came back, they did another skin graft on my face.
They inserted some device under my skin to stretch it.
They also removed shrapnel from my head,
and separated my fingers that were welded together.

To begin with, the physiotherapy hurt but not anymore.
I’m getting better every day.

I can move my hand
and I can clench and unclench my fingers,
I couldn’t before.

During the months
she spends in Amman,
Haïfa is separated from
her 18-month old baby daughter

My daughter’s in Yemen. She’s upset. I’ve left her with my sister.

When I go back to Yemen, all I want is a house,
even if it’s just one room. I want somewhere comfortable where my daughter and I can live.
My husband has left me.
But I want to live in safety.
I want to set up home with my daughter and my brothers.
That’s all I need
to raise my daughter as best I can.

Maxillofacial Surgery

Plastic Surgery

Surgery

War Victim